The Carrick-a-Rede Bridge is one of the top attractions along Northern Ireland’s Coastal Causeway. It crosses over the 60’ chasm formed by the mouth of a 60 million year old volcano. Waves rage 100′ beneath the bridge and break against the rocks. The stronger the wind the more the bridge swings and sways.

Baie-Saint-Paul, one of the oldest towns in Quebec, is the cultural capital of Charlevoix. Painters and other artists have long been drawn to the region for its natural beauty. Baie-Saint-Paul is also the birthplace of Cirque du Soleil.

This is an extraordinary opportunity with experienced nature guides who follow strict park and environmental regulations that protect the marine life in this national park. Dolphin dart by, playful seals keep a watchful eye on visitors, and a variety of sea birds bob along. But it is the sight and sounds of these gentle giants that will remain forever in your heart.

Kia Ora , the Maori greeting, welcomes visitors this land of fiery volcanoes and glacial ice. Steam billows from craters that delve deep into the earth and snow crowns magnificent mountains that soar to the sky. Mud pools boil and glacial lakes glisten. Unique and flightless birds like the kiwi and now-extinct moa, largest bird on earth, flourished until the arrival of man and other predators.

The stillness of the morning was broken as the aura of a sunrise colored the sky. There was the sound ducks beckoning one another to begin a new day. Even the most nocturnal of travel writers had become an early riser, wanting to share in the magic of dawn, where the only sights and sounds were those of nature.

We glided past floating sculptures shaped by wind and weather, frozen reminders of ages past, shimmering shapes in a sparkling sea, the sky a clear cerulean. On both sides, dramatic peaks soared nearly 5000 feet above, dwarfing us as we sailed past icebergs and waterfalls in a pristine wilderness. This was the rarest of days in Ikerasassuag, “The Long Channel”, Prince Christian Sound.

Whether you are seeking soothing relaxation or ultimate thrills Ohio’s Lake Erie Shores & Islands has something for you. Little wonder it is known as the most popular vacation destination in the Midwest.

On our two-day 725 mile daylight land cruise we sat back in our glass carriage and enjoyed the view. We experienced the enormity of mountains and vastness of the Interior Plateau and a forested wilderness from the comfort of our armchairs.

East from Quebec City along the north shore of the St. Lawrence is the region of Charlevoix, named for Father Francois-Xavier Charlevoix, Jesuit and first historian of New France. The area was shaped 350 million years ago by a 15 billion ton meteorite that left one of the largest craters on earth, extending 56 kilometers, west from Baie-Saint-Paul to east of La Malbaie.